Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2015
341. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of litters of greyhounds that have been registered by the Irish Coursing Club as offspring of a bitch having her ninth litter; if he has ever requested the Irish Coursing Club to discontinue breaking greyhound welfare legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26436/15]
View answerThe ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon under Section 26(2) of the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 (the Act). Bord na gCon is a commercial State body, established under the Act and is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry including greyhound racing and coursing. The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is responsible for the identification and registration of Greyhounds in the Irish Greyhound Studbook.
The Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 specifies standards for greyhound welfare, establishes a register of Greyhound Breeding Establishments and regulates their operation. A Code of Practice in the care and welfare of the greyhound has been established and published by Bord na gCon as per the requirements of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. The primary objective of the Code of Practice is to set standards and clearly define what is expected of all individuals engaged in the care and management of registered greyhounds.
Greyhound welfare at Bord na gCon is managed by the Welfare Manager who can call upon three area stipendiary stewards and thirteen control stewards to conduct investigations of stray or mistreated greyhounds, conduct kennel inspections and investigate other welfare related incidents which have been reported to Bord na gCon. The Welfare Manager, all area stipendiary stewards and all control stewards have been appointed by Bord na gCon as Welfare Officers under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011.
The limit on the number of litters a brood bitch may whelp is governed by Article 11 (3) of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. These provisions are enforced in the following manner:
when a brood bitch is mated to produce a sixth litter, the breeder is informed at that time that they may only have a further two litters, provided the brood is certified by a veterinary surgeon as being fit to be mated. Breeders are further advised when they have reached the seventh litter stage.
The ICC has assured me that it is operating in compliance with the provisions of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011, including provisions in relation to the registration of greyhounds in the studbook.
I understand that a rule amendment is currently being prepared by the ICC which stipulates that a litter born in Ireland must be registered in Ireland and cannot be accommodated in the UK stud book thereby preventing circumvention of Article 11 (3) of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011.
